Flexible pipe-coupling



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UNITED .STATES PATENT Ormes@ ROSSER BODYGOMB, OF WILKES-BARR, PENNSYLTANIA.

FLEXIBLE PIPE-COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,139, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed August 20,1ESS.

To @ZZ whom it may conceive:

Beit known that I, Rossnn Bonrconn, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at lVilkes- Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible Pipe-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in llexible pipe-couplings to be used for conveying steam or compressed air from one car to another on railroad-trains, and for other purposes; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a ilexible pipecoupling embodying my improvements, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken on the line :vx of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a number of my improved couplings connecting lengths of pipe,whereby the latter are rendered nexible and are adapted to coliform to the motion of the cars without loosening the joints.

A represents one section of the coupling, which comprises a circular disk, B, from the center of which projects a straight or curved hollow arm, C, which is provided with screw threads D, by means of which a pipe-section may be secured thereto. On the upper side of the disk B is a concentric offset or flange, E, which is formed integrally with said disk.

F represents the upper members of the coupling, which is cast or formed of a single piece of metal and comprises the circular base G and the neck H, which rises from the center thereof. On the under side of the base G is an annular counterbore, I, which is concentric with the said base, and at the upper end of the neck I-I, on opposite sides thereof, are projecting lugs or ears K.

L represents a sleeve of suitable length, the exterior diameter of which is somewhat less than the interior diameter of the neck H, and which is provided at its lower end with a baselange, M, which is adapted to iit in the counterbore I.

The disk B and the base G are secured together by clamping-bolts N, and, if necessary, a packing-ring, O, is interposed between the Serial NQQSILEST. (Nomodel.)

said disk and base, so as to effect perfectly steam and air tight joints between the members of the coupling.

P represents a cylindrical gland, through which the sleeve L extends and which fits in the bore of the neck H and is adapted to be moved vertically therein. The lower edge of the said gland is beveled inwardly, and the space within the bore of the neck H between the said glands and the liange M ofthe sleeve is lllled with packing material It, which is adapted to be compressed when the gland is forced downward in the neck by the devices now to be described.

Projecting from the upper end, on opposite sides thereof, are lugs or ears S.

T represents bolts, which are secured in the lugs or ears K, project upward therefrom, pass through plane openings in the lugs or ears S, and are provided at their upper ends with clamping-nuts U,which enable the gland to be 'forced downward in the bore of the neck a sufiicient distance to compress the packing material R, so as to prevent leakage around the gland.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the sleeve L is adapted to rotate within the gland, and that the ilange M at the lower end of the sleeve is adapted to turn in the counterbore or recess between the sections Of the coupling.

The upper end of the sleeve L is provided with screw-threads, by means of which an elbow-j oint, V, is attached tothe said sleeve, and to the said elbow-joint may be secured a pipesection similar to that secured to the arm C. The said pipesections being thus connected together by my improved coupling may be arranged at any desired angle with relation to each other without affecting or interrupting the communication between said pipesections and without the danger of starting a leak in the coupling.

By connecting a number of pipe-sections together by means of a number ol' my improved couplings, as shown in Fig. 3, a conductingpipe may be provided with any desired number ofjoints and adapted to be contorted or arranged in any desired form.

My invention is particularly adapted for use on railway-trains for conducting compressed IOO air from one car to another to operate the airbrakes, or for conducting steam or hot water from one car to another for heating purposes; but the said improved coupling may also be used for a Variety of other purposes which it is not necessary to enumerate here.

Having thus described my invention, I-

claim- The combination of the disk B, having the annular Bange E ou one side and the quartercircular arm C projecting from the opposite side and adapted for the attachment of a pipe, the member F, having the base G on fiange E, and having the counterbore or recess I, and the neck H, With lugs or ears K, the eylindrical sleeve L in the bore of the neck and hav- Witnesses:

DAVID L. JOHN, DAvlD BoDYooMB. 

